Revolutionary ideas at the Hamburg Innovation Summit: record participation!

Revolutionary ideas at the Hamburg Innovation Summit: record participation!

The Hamburg Innovation Summit (HHIS) set a true visitor record in its tenth edition: over 3,000 registrations were registered, almost twice as many as in the previous year. This impressive number shows the growing interest in innovations and new technologies. The event took place in the Oberhafenquartier and was fully booked. The summit was opened by Senator Dr. Melanie Leonhard and Senator Maryam Blumenthal, who emphasized the close cooperation between research, business and society in their speeches. The opening talk was moderated by Martina Offeh, with the topic “Economy & Science meets Politics” promising heated discussions and exciting insights.

Speaking of exciting insights: First Mayor Dr. Peter Tschentscher didn't miss the opportunity to visit the summit and find out about current innovations. Over 140 speakers were active on a total of six stages and presented over 80 program items that generated great interest. Dr. Frederike Fritzsche from the Otto Group, for example, spoke about the open innovation culture and the necessary transformation through artificial intelligence. Dr. Hans Rusinek, member of the Club of Rome, called for a courageous culture of innovation, while Emmanuel Krüss called on the participants to show social commitment.

Innovative formats and exhibition

Formats such as the Science Slam and the panels on topics such as quantum computing and the AI ​​Hub were particularly well received. The Expo Area had an impressive 1,800 square meters available, in which over 30 exhibitors presented their projects. Among them was Bluu Seafood, which deals with the cultivation of fish cells for sustainable food production. There were exciting innovations on display, such as AI-supported de-escalation training, a building inspection using the robot dog “Spot” and strategies for using quantum computers.

In order to make the event even more family-friendly, a new event app was also presented and childcare was set up in the “Luya Kidscorner”. The participants were not only offered interesting insights, but also numerous networking opportunities. The final event was a networking night that gave guests the opportunity to make new contacts and exchange ideas.

Optimism and challenges

As part of the Innovation 2025 trend monitor, the perception of innovation among the participants was also recorded. 47% of those surveyed expressed optimistic prospects regarding future innovations. However, there are also challenges: 32.8% of participants see a culture of fear as the biggest obstacle to innovation, followed by bureaucracy (29.5%) and a lack of willingness to take risks (27.9%).

The anniversary event, which has been held since 2015, offered free entry this year and was supported by various institutions, including the Authority for Economic Affairs and Innovation. It is clear: Innovation is very important in Hamburg, and the HHIS is setting new standards.

For participants who would like to find out more about the event's data protection, detailed information can be found on the Hamburg Innovation Summit website. This explains, among other things, which data is processed and how participants can exercise their rights regarding data protection.